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Hispanic Heritage Month: Governor's Proclamation

Congratulations to Andrea Cano, chairwoman, and member commissioners of the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs for a milestone moment. On Sept. 13, Governor John Kitzhaber signed the 2012 Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation, recognizing the contributions of Latino Americans to the State.

Read the full text of the proclamation in English, and in Spanish.

More than 100 people attended the signing ceremony, including Oregon Secretaryof State Kate Brown, Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum, and State Supreme Court Justice Paul de Muniz. The event also recognized 30 years of service by the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs (OCHA). Throughout the years, many community leaders have stepped up to represent the evolving needs of the growing Latino community in Oregon, from small business ownership, access to quality education, health care, among other issues. View the list of 2012-13 OCHA Commissioners.

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OCHA was created 30 years ago by the State Legislature and charged to "work toward economic, social, political and legal equality for Oregon´s Hispanic population." The Commission is authorized to monitor existing programs and legislation designed to meet the needs of Oregon’s Hispanic population, as well as to identify and research problem areas and issues affecting the Hispanic community and recommend actions to the Governor and the Legislative Assembly, including recommendations on legislative programs. Commissioners that hail from across Oregon -- a growing network of individuals, organizations, civil sectors, and allies -- all contribute to identifying and prioritizing community issues.

Chairwoman Andrea Cano shared her remarks from the Sept. 13 proclamation signing:

Created by legislative statute in 1983, OCHA will also be inaugurating a year-long schedule of activities in recognizing the many historic and current Latino leaders, organizations, and supporters, including you, who have made significant contributions to Oregon’s history and development.  We will also monitor proposed measures, bills during the upcoming Legislative Session, track, and evaluate public policies.

Among our priorities this session, are new measures to strengthen protection against hate crimes, oversight on civil rights violations and wage theft, diminishing disparities and assuring equity in education, health, housing, and economic development. We are also partnering with the Governor’s Office and state agencies on key initiatives related to public safety, voter registration, and human rights related to the evolving demographics of our community.

OCHA meetings are open to the public, and will resume in the fall. Bookmark the OCHA webpage for announcements about future events, and how to get involved. Also "like" OCHA on FaceBook to stay connected with OCHA happenings.

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